2009 is shaping up to be a year of significant change in the ongoing debate over same-sex marriage. In recent weeks same-sex marriage was legalized in Iowa, Vermont, and Sweden and pending legislation may soon lead to the legalization of same-sex marriage in New Hampshire and the recognition of same-sex marriages in the District of Columbia. Employers should take note of these legal developments that are likely to cause an increase in requests for spousal benefit coverage from employees who legally married their same-sex partner in one of the four states or seven foreign countries where same-sex marriage is now legal.
